Topic Wiki

Please post your questions in the correct thread. This thread, as the title clearly states, is for general Hawaii questions only.

If you have any questions that pertains to a particular island, post it in the appropriate island thread. See below for links to all island threads.

You'd get far better answers there, and chances are that your issue was already discussed at length too.

DansMeals: Hawaii For The Kosher Traveler:
-Part 1: General Info And The Island Of Oahu
-Part 2: The Big Island of Hawaii
-Part 3: Maui
-Part 4: Kauai

Related DD Posts:
-Ultimate Hawaii Mileage Chart and Everything You Need to Know About the Hawaiian Islands (2015)
-Trip Notes: Maui No Ka ‘Oi (2014)
-Trip Notes Kauai: Heaven On Earth (2014)
-The Hawaiian Islands. (2011)
-Traveling To Hawaii…With A 5 Month Old (2011)
-View From The Room (2011)
-Pearl Harbor…70 Years (2011)
-Shaloha! (2011)
-Hawaii Trip Notes: Kauai (2009)
-Hawaii Trip Notes: Oahu (2009)
-Which Miles To Use To Fly To Hawaii?

Related DDF Destination Threads:
-Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
-Kauai Master Thread
-Maui Master Thread
-Oahu Master Thread
-Lanai, Molokai, and Niihau, Hawaii Master Thread

Background on Hawaiian Islands
You've probably heard of Honolulu. That's the state capital and is located on island of Oahu, the main island with the largest airport. Honolulu hosts the famous Waikiki Beach and if you look at pictures, it looks like Miami. One long beach with a strip of hotels. Most DDFers say to go to one of the other 3 main islands which are less touristy and the hotels are more spread out. In no particular order, the other islands are Maui, Kauai and Hawaii (yes, that's the name of one of the islands. It's also known as The Big Island - confusing because Big Island sounds like it's the "Main Island", but Oahu is the main island). Direct flights from NYC only go to HNL. You can get direct flights from other cities (LAX, SFO, OAK, SJC, SAN, DEN, DFW, PHX, SEA, ORD as examples) to the other islands. Hawaii is amazing - have fun! The main airport codes are:
Oahu: HNL
Maui: OGG
Kauai: LIH
The Big Island: KOA, ITO (2 airports on 2 different sides of the island)

Interisland flights:
Hawaiian is the main interisland carrier and flies HNL, LIH, OGG, KOA, and ITO. They have countless flights each day and are nearly always on time - often even early. Never book a tight connection hoping that the interisland flight will be delayed.

Go and Island Air fly from HNL. Mokulele flies from HNL and KOA, as well as to Kapalua (JHM), Hana (HNM), Molokai (MKK), Lanai (LNY), and Waimea-Kohala (MUE) on the Big Island. Hawaiian's subsidiary Ohana flies HNL to MKK and LNY.

You can also use 5k AA, 6k UA or 7.5k HA miles each way to fly interisland. You can use 15k DL pesos for a RT interisland. United allows a free stopover on a round-trip, so for instance you can fly HNL-LIH-OGG-HNL for just 12K miles.
HA has several tiers, similar to DL, the lowest tier is the only one that's available using partner miles, but with HA miles you can purchase tickets that are otherwise unavailable for additional miles.

@Yehuda's thoughts on deciding between Kauai and Maui:
Here's a list of the main activities on both islands. Decide what interests you, and then you'll know where to go.

Kauai has what many say to be one of the best hikes in the world - Kalalau Trail. Most people will only do the first part, but it's still very highly regarded. The views atop Waimea Canyon are breathtaking, yet Maui also has breathtaking views at Haleakala. Kauai also has some supposedly awesome off-roading on Miloli'i Ridge Road. Sunset at the 12-mile long Polihale Beach is supposed to be quite the sunset. A helicopter tour of Kauai is generally said to be much better than a heli tour of Maui. If the water is calm, Queen's Bath, which is a natural pool in the ocean you can swim in that's protected from the ocean's force by hardened lava, is SICK, but Maui has the same thing by the Olivine Pools. Kayaking down the Wailua River to "Secret Falls" is supposed to be great as well. Of course, the luxurious, tropical amazingness of the Grand Hyatt Kauai is a huge boost for Kauai, except for its beach, but the great Po'ipu Beach is 5 minutes away.

Maui has the Road to Hana, which is an incredible drive through what feels like a rainforest with tons of opportunities to take small hikes to waterfalls and pools. It's just wow wow wow. Sunrise at the top Haleakala is not to be missed. A boat trip to snorkel by Molokini Crater offers what is supposedly some of the best snorkeling visibility in the world. Warren & Annabelle's Magic Show is supposed to be a great night out. The hotels are also magical, perhaps to a lesser degree than GHK, but the beaches by the main hotels are a big plus over GHK's beach. EDIT: The Grand Wailea in Maui is a gorgeous hotel that rivals the GHK (and its lazy river actually moves as opposed to GHK's ). Add in the fact that its beach (Wailea Beach) is swimmable and doesn't require the albeit short drive to Po'ipu Beach that the GHK does, I'm not sure that the GHK should be a reason enough to tip the scales in favor of Kauai over Maui anymore.

So, pick the types of activities you'd want to do and then you'll have your island. I personally liked Maui better mostly because of the Road to Hana, but to be fair, I did miss out on the Kalalau Trail in Kauai due to weather.
« Last edited by jj1000 on December 25, 2023, 10:30:33 AM »

Author Topic: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?  (Read 485071 times)

Offline Joe4007

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1060 on: December 24, 2014, 02:03:24 PM »
No option just to keep a 2-day shabbos?
My LOR said that if possible we should try to avoid it altogether as it raises some issues (lighting candles, etc.).

Offline @Yehuda

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1061 on: December 24, 2014, 02:17:16 PM »
Exactly what we just did (except that we stayed in CA a little longer). Was awesome!
Oh cool! Awaiting the TR... ;)

No option just to keep a 2-day shabbos?
Good Q. I didn't ask, but I imagine there are some issues like Joe pointed out. I'm also not sure how much time I can take off from work. Meaning, even if we stayed through Shabbos, we would still probably have to leave on Sunday, so how much did we gain by having 2 more Shabbos days in our itinerary?

Online skyguy918

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1062 on: December 24, 2014, 02:26:55 PM »
I think I like talking about HI every few weeks even if I know it's still so far away...

Got my Psak recently and I'm going to try to avoid being in HI for Shabbos. Therefore 2 Q's:
1) I was told the Safek begins Thursday at Shkia and ends Motzai Shabbos - is that correct?
2) Assuming it is correct, I think the most practical route would be EWR-HNL on a Sunday and then continuing on that afternoon to LIH/OGG (most likely, based on TRs) and then on Thursday, catching the 1/2PM flights LIH/OGG-LAX, spend Shabbos in LA and go home on Sunday. So, is Sunday night + 3 days + Thursday morning enough to say the trip is worth doing? I know it's not ideal for HI, but it's also not terrible...
Did something like that with my glitch tickets.

Flew Sunday morning, JFK-LAX-HNL-OGG, arriving at ~5PM. Flew OGG-HNL ~8AM, spent the day at Pearl Harbor, and was scheduled to leave at 3:20PM flying HNL-LAX-MSP-JFK (well before shkia). Then we missed our flight :-[, eventually making it onto HNL-SLC-JFK at 9:50PM (obviously well after even tzeis). The reason I decided to take that later flight instead of attempting to stay in HNL over Shabbos was that although my Rov told us we shouldn't stay over Shabbos (ie already from Thursday shkia), I knew that he told a friend who had stayed for Shabbos because of a work conference to only keep one day. So I figured it was more of a don't get yourself mixed up in these shailos type of thing, but b'shas hadchak he would pasken one day - which I confirmed with him after the fact. Then the plane from SLC turned back after half an hour due to a passenger that fainted/fell unconscious, and bottom line we got back to NY with just enough time to get ready for Shabbos. [The mussar haskel is obviously don't miss your flight ;D]

As far as going for that length of time, it was absolutely worth it. Obviously I wish I'd been able to go for longer. But #1 everyone says that no matter how long they go - it is Hawaii after all :D. And #2 I couldn't get more time off from work anyway.

Offline @Yehuda

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1063 on: December 24, 2014, 02:30:50 PM »
Did something like that with my glitch tickets.

Flew Sunday morning, JFK-LAX-HNL-OGG, arriving at ~5PM. Flew OGG-HNL ~8AM, spent the day at Pearl Harbor, and was scheduled to leave at 3:20PM flying HNL-LAX-MSP-JFK (well before shkia). Then we missed our flight :-[, eventually making it onto HNL-SLC-JFK at 9:50PM (obviously well after even tzeis). The reason I decided to take that later flight instead of attempting to stay in HNL over Shabbos was that although my Rov told us we shouldn't stay over Shabbos (ie already from Thursday shkia), I knew that he told a friend who had stayed for Shabbos because of a work conference to only keep one day. So I figured it was more of a don't get yourself mixed up in these shailos type of thing, but b'shas hadchak he would pasken one day - which I confirmed with him after the fact. Then the plane from SLC turned back after half an hour due to a passenger that fainted/fell unconscious, and bottom line we got back to NY with just enough time to get ready for Shabbos. [The mussar haskel is obviously don't miss your flight ;D]

As far as going for that length of time, it was absolutely worth it. Obviously I wish I'd been able to go for longer. But #1 everyone says that no matter how long they go - it is Hawaii after all :D. And #2 I couldn't get more time off from work anyway.
Thanks for the data point/TR! Quite a few stops on your trip - not sure I would be down for that, but good for you! I guess that is a good enough amount of time for now. IY"H more Sunday-Thursday trips in the future!

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1064 on: December 24, 2014, 03:28:54 PM »
My LOR said that if possible we should try to avoid it altogether as it raises some issues (lighting candles, etc.).

I’ve done it twice already. Of course it raises some issues, but I got my psak from one of the most well-known and respected dayanim alive today (I don’t know if it’s a good idea to post his name here; feel free to PM if you want to know).
 
Here’s what he said (obviously for informational purposes only; everyone should ask their own LOR):
 
- Keep Shabbos on Saturday, plus keep d’oreisas on Friday (meaning from sundown Thursday). (This is also paskened in Shevet HaLevy as well as other sources)
- D’rabonons could be done, but only if there’s a “need” – not just for the heck of it (for example amira l’akum is fine, but touching muktza just because is not).
- Light >25-hour yartzeit candles at the zman on Thursday without a brocha, but say “l’kovod Shabbos kodesh” on them.
- By the zman Friday cover your eyes and then make the regular brocha on the candles.
- Tefillin, davening, bentching, Kiddush, havdala, etc. should all be done as on a normal Friday and Shabbos.
 
Based on this here are some more data points, all discussed and confirmed with a different (read: easier to access) dayan:
 
- Carrying on the grounds/yard on Friday is allowed, since it’s considered a karmelis.
- Amira l’akum is allowed.
- Dry food (chicken, kugel) could be put onto a blech or hotplate Friday afternoon, as long as the flame or hot plate was already on (either since Thursday or on a timer).
- Wet foods (soup) should be put up Thursday afternoon only.
 
 
No option just to keep a 2-day shabbos?

Good Q. I didn't ask, but I imagine there are some issues like Joe pointed out. I'm also not sure how much time I can take off from work. Meaning, even if we stayed through Shabbos, we would still probably have to leave on Sunday, so how much did we gain by having 2 more Shabbos days in our itinerary?

Very highly recommended. Both times the long Shabbos was one of the top highlights of our trips. After a week of running around all day seeing and doing amazing things being forced to relax and do nothing for two days is absolute heaven. Take long walks (and even longer naps), read under trees dripping avocados, just let yourself melt into the Hawaiian air.
Finding the right place to stay over Shabbos is vital; a small hotel room isn’t a very good place to klutz around in for two days. This is where a great vacation rental really shines – look hard enough and you could find amazing gems at amazing prices.
I think in your case this would be a great itinerary – run around all week, do some hardcore relaxing for two days, than have a jam-packed Sunday (Road to Hana, BI volcano, Kauai north shore… you get the drift).
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Offline @Yehuda

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1065 on: December 24, 2014, 04:08:48 PM »
I think in your case this would be a great itinerary – run around all week, do some hardcore relaxing for two days, than have a jam-packed Sunday (Road to Hana, BI volcano, Kauai north shore… you get the drift).
Thanks for that DETAILED post!

I definitely could discuss it with my Rav, but I have a feeling he wouldn't advise staying for 2-day Shabbos. He was basing his Psak off one of his Rebbeim who also holds one shouldn't go to Japan area over Shabbos ('shouldn't go' I assume as opposed to just keeping 2 days). He was once asked by a Talmid, "What would Rebbe say to a Talmid who plans on going to Japan over Shabbos in terms of how many days to keep?" to which he replied, "I wouldn't call that person my Talmid." lol

Either way, though, can't those Sunday activities you listed be part of Mon-Weds plans? I hear how your itinerary looks great, but if my Rav doesn't agree with 2 days, then it's not going to work out for me.

Offline Ergel

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1066 on: December 24, 2014, 04:09:30 PM »
Swimming on Friday I assume your posek assured?
Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1067 on: December 24, 2014, 04:18:53 PM »
Either way, though, can't those Sunday activities you listed be part of Mon-Weds plans?

Sure they could; my example was just pointing out that you're haveone more day to do something amazing.

I hear how your itinerary looks great, but if my Rav doesn't agree with 2 days, then it's not going to work out for me.

Of course.
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1068 on: December 24, 2014, 04:21:07 PM »
Swimming on Friday I assume your posek assured?

Actually not, we did go swimming.
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1069 on: December 24, 2014, 04:36:31 PM »
Y'all just need to come to the dark chabad side.
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1070 on: December 24, 2014, 04:37:38 PM »
SF, now that you're in Monsey you have to get Rabbi Gancz recorded giving his kav hatairich shuir... 
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1071 on: December 25, 2014, 01:32:53 PM »
any place in Hawaii there is a ? if u have to keep shabbes 2 days ?

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1072 on: December 25, 2014, 01:33:31 PM »
Every place in Hawaii there is a ? if u have to keep shabbes 2 days ?
FTFY

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1073 on: December 25, 2014, 03:02:41 PM »
Yes.
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1074 on: December 28, 2014, 06:43:27 PM »
I agree with SF that the few days to relax can really make the trip. Packing it all in and then rushing right home might still be amazing but will leave you so exhausted you will need another vacation!

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What are best options from west coast to hawaii
« Reply #1075 on: December 29, 2014, 03:30:35 AM »
Looking for 5 tickets in June, what are my best options to find either reasonable airfare or mileage? Either Maui or Kauai

Thanks

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Re: What are best options from west coast to hawaii
« Reply #1076 on: December 29, 2014, 07:51:40 AM »
12.5K Avois.
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Re: What are best options from west coast to hawaii
« Reply #1079 on: December 29, 2014, 10:07:48 AM »
Quite out of date...
time for a new roundup then
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